Exploring in the Viking Council is part of the Boy Scouts of
America's youth development program for young men and women 14 (who have completed the
eighth grade) through 20 years of age.

Exploring's purpose is to provide experiences to help young people
mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Explorers are ready to
explore the meaning of interdependence in their personal relationships and in their
communities.

Exploring is based on a unique and dynamic relationship between
youth and the organizations in their communities, Local community organizations initiate a
specific Explorer post by matching their people and program resources to the interests of
young people in the community. The result is a program of activities that helps youth
pursue their special interests, grow, and develop.

The program of each Explorer post is unique as it is developed
around the interests and capabilities of adults in the organization. Explorer posts can
specialize in a variety of career or hobby subjects and plan programs that offer

The methods of Exploring have been carefully chosen to meet the
needs of young adults.

Voluntary association between youth and adults. Because
Exploring is voluntary, youth are receptive to new ideas, experiences, and relationships.
For the Explorer, these relationships provide care, a connection to new ways of thinking
and acting, and a new identity as a responsible young adult.

Ethical decision making. By asking young people to be
responsible for themselves, for a program of activities and experiences, and for
other people, Exploring provides numerous opportunities for making decisions and ethical
choices. With the influence of capable adults and structured activities, youth learn to
make effective and ethical decisions.

Group activities. Exploring activities are interdependent
group experiences in which success is dependent on the cooperation of all.

Recognition of achievement. This recognition might come
through formal awards, but it also is achieved through the acknowledgment of a young
person's competence and abilities by peers and adults.

Democratic process. Explorer posts provide exposure to
democratic ideals and skills that are needed throughout life.

Curiosity, exploration, and adventure. This happens through
new experiences that provide opportunities for acquiring new skills and participating in
action-oriented activities.

Viking Council features many types of career and
hobby/sport based posts. Every
Explorer post "specializes" in a specific career, hobby, sport, or outdoor
program area. More than 100 different specialties have been organized, ranging from
accounting to zoology. Some specialty programs have grown to include a national committee,
activities, and staff support.
Explore the variety of Viking Council
Posts. These include:

Medical and Health Careers. The
American Medical Association and other national health organizations support the
organization of posts in hospitals, clinics, medical centers, schools, and other
health-care organizations. These posts render valuable community service and provide
members on insight into a variety of career opportunities.

Law Enforcement. This specialty
is supported by a grant from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, endorsement by
the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and help from other national law
enforcement organizations and industries. More than 2,172 police and sheriff's departments
have organized Explorer posts specializing in law enforcement. These posts can provide
assistance in crime prevention programs and traffic control, and as aides to patrol
officers.

Aviation. The aviation specialty
encompasses a range of programs, including maintenance, gliders, operations, construction,
flight attendants, airport management, and aerospace. Aviation Explorer posts provide
programs and activities for youth interested in career or avocational fields. The Federal
Aviation Association supports this growth along with aviation organizations, unions, and
industries.

Law and Government. The American
Bar Association and other organizations support the high interest of many youth in low or
government participation through Exploring. Low Day activities, mock trials, and other
law-related activities provide firsthand experience in America's legal and court system.

Sea Exploring. The oldest
specialty program started as Sea Scouts in 1912 and has grown into a structured program of
nautical instruction, tradition, and activities. Sail and power boats, safety,
oceanography, and other maritime activities offer exciting and worthwhile programs for
young men and women interested in the sea.

Outdoor Adventure.
Camping,
hiking, canoeing, ecology, mountaineering, field sports, and fishing are but a few of the
outdoor-related posts found across America. All posts include outdoor activities, and many
specialize in them, stressing conservation, safety, and proper outdoor living.

Sports. In cooperation with the
U.S. Olympic Committee and many national sports organizations, Exploring serves as a youth
development program for Olympic and other sports. Some posts concentrate on a specific
sport such as gymnastics, aquatics, cycling, archery, or volleyball, while others plan a
variety of sports and fitness programs. In addition to competition, young adults are
offered the opportunity for sports and fitness activities, such as coaching, training,
careers, youth instruction, nutrition, and officiating.

An important goal of Exploring is to help young adults be
responsible and caring persons, both now and in the future. Exploring uses "ethical
controversies" to help young adults develop the ability to make responsible choices
that reflect their caring for what's at risk and for the people involved. Because an
ethical controversy is a problem-solving situation, leaders expect young adults to employ
empathy, invention, and selection when they think through their position and work toward a
solution of an ethical controversy.

What an Explorer post does is limited only by the imagination and
involvement of its leaders-build a glider, climb a mountain, make an electric car, run a
ski race, go sailing, ride horses, tour Europe, produce a play, conduct a mock trial, go
white-water canoeing, prospect for gold, or teach disabled people to swim. All these
>IR|dventures and many more are being done today by posts across the country. All that is
needed are concerned adults who are willing to share a little bit of themselves with
today's youth-tomorrow's citizens.

2. A survey is conducted annually in community high schools to
determine student career and hobby interest.

3. A meeting is called of key people within an organization, with an
Exploring representative in attendance. This representative explains special-interest
Exploring, describes the key volunteer positions, and plans the recruiting of adult
leaders.

4. The post committee and Advisors meet with the Exploring
representative. Responsibilities of adult leaders are explained. The Exploring
representative also discusses program ideas and helps develop a one-year program. The
post's one-year program is reviewed and adopted.

5. The organization's top executive writes a personal letter to each
young adult selected from the survey, inviting the youths and their parents to attend on
organization meeting. This letter is followed by a personal invitation from a member of
the organization to each prospective Explorer.

6. The first meeting is held, involving young adults, the post
committee, and selected consultants. Application for the post charter is completed.
Plans are made for the installation of elected youth officers and for presentation of the
post's charter.

Teenagers want a broader experience that supplements career
information with practical, "hands-on" experience and is tailored to their
cultural backgrounds.

Teenagers want social, religious, and community service programs
within a youth group environment.

Teenagers want to belong to a group that provides a "safe
haven" from which to

address the youth-development issues that affect them. These issues
include experimentation; moving from dependence to interdependence; social relationships;
psychological changes and sexual maturity; and reevaluation of values.

The Boy Scouts of America has designed extensive literature,
audiovisuals, training, activities, and awards to support Explorer posts.

Literature and
Audio-visuals. A
variety of books, pamphlets, and videos are available on organization, program,
leadership, and activities. In particular, the Explorer Leader Handbook, No. 34637,
supports leadership and planning.

Training. The Viking Council provides basic and advanced leader training
sessions along with post leader workshops, Advisor meetings and program conferences
to improve and enrich post programs.

Activities. BSA local councils
plan canoe races, sports tournaments, road rallies, ski trips, and other events for
Explorers. Explorers may attend the national high-adventure areas in Minnesota, Florida,
and New Mexico. Other programs that enhance Explorer participation are the biennial
national Explorer leadership conference, biennial national low enforcement Explorer
conference, National Explorer/Crossman Air Rifle Championships, and National Low Explorer
Mock Trial Competition.

Awards.
A variety of awards and
scholarships are available to recognize Explorer achievements.

Exploring magazine. A year's
subscription to an exciting four-times-a-year publication is included in the Explorer
membership fee.

BSA Councils.
The Explorer post
is supported by some 340 BSA councils that provide staff and volunteer support, operate
service centers and camps, and conduct training and activities.

Liability insurance. The Boy
Scouts of America has liability insurance that covers leaders and organizations to which
Explorer posts are chartered. Accident and medical coverage are not included but are
available through BSA local councils at a modest cost.

TheScoutingBSA.org
web site is a volunteer effort. Suggestions for improving
the site are welcome! Please email your comments to the
Web Committee.
Problem reports may be sent to the
Webmaster. Our goal is to improve communications and to
advance Scouting.
Thank you for your input!